Andrea Römmele, Vice Chairwoman of the Hertie School in Berlin, warned the federal government against further delays in reforms, demanding instead a comprehensive plan after the party’s surging polling figures. Speaking to the “Bild” newspaper, Römmele stated that the government still has a chance to change the current trajectory, but time is running out, particularly with upcoming elections in September. she urged the Chancellor, the CSU leader, and the SPD leader to jointly present a major reform agenda and a positive vision for Germany’s future, arguing that this would counter the momentum of the AfD. Römmele added that democracy requires such a positive vision, which the federal government currently lacks, despite having some initial reform successes. According to her, this deficiency allows the AfD to gain an unearned advantage.
Echoing the concerns, Reint Gropp, President of the Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH), told the “Bild” that genuine and substantive reforms are the best way to curb the AfD’s rising numbers. However, he criticized the government for lacking the courage to enact fundamental changes, citing, as a prime example, a noticeable tax reduction. Gropp emphasized that such a cut must happen by January 1st and specifically needs to alleviate the burden on middle-income earners between 50,000 and 60,000 euros annually, noting that this group is currently disproportionately affected. Furthermore, according to Gropp, the tax reduction must be universally applied, as only broad economic relief can trigger the urgently needed stimulus for the economy. He suggested that the Finance Minister must cover any resulting budget deficits by making cuts to subsidies and various funding programs.